Why These Illustrations?

Why are these particular illustrations used in the TOC?? On the 1st page, the sleeping fairies at the top aren't even in the book, they are in the trailer! Some seem to be indicating certain chapters. Any ideas???

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"We may not be first, but at least we are not last!" Meaner Simikkles RULE!

I think there is a lot more to the cover than meets the unaided eye. I think that "7" is an important number. Note the upside down 2 at the bottom of the page left of "Michael", then follow Ana's hair that starts to form the ribbon (just below the serpent's mouth) and there is an upside down 3, follow the ribbon to under the "AL" in Alchemist and there is another upside down 2. 2+3+2=7. Then look at Ana's closed eye it's a backward 7, then her ear says "FYI". Add up the clumps of mushrooms:
4+3=7, 3+3+1=7. Visible green circles with tree trunks (around Ana's face)=7. Lot's of stuff like this in the book if you look real closely at the illustrations. For instance look at Dar's right foot (our left) there is a white lightening bolt that points to the letters on his shoes "RED". If you look at Dar's face very carefully his nose and right part of his upper lip form a large man that is holding a harpoon with a line that is wrapped around a whales tail and body (just in front of his ear). Don't know the meaning of all this but with enough information from all of us maybe we can nab one of these pesky rings. Best.
Steelhunting

Steel - I think it's possible that some of the things you're mentioning are important, such as the hidden 2s and 3s. However, I really think you are reading a little too much into some of this stuff. I suppose Ana's ear could say FYI, but personally, I think that's a stretch. Same with her eye, and for the man/whale on Dar's face.

As for the mushrooms, the way you added them up is pretty random. Yes, 4+3 = 7, but unless I'm missing something it appears to me that you selected the mushroom groups in no particular order just to fit them into your theory. Not to mention that you're leaving out the two under Dar's foot, and you're adding one group of three twice. That's not systematic.

You could have just as easily said that the number 5 is important because there are 5 groups of mushrooms. Also, the groups contain (from left to right) 4, 1, 3, 3, and 2 mushrooms, and 4+1 and 3+2 both equal 5. Oh, and the hidden three plus the hidden 2 equal 5. Also, there are only 5 trees that aren't touched by Ana's hair.

See what I'm gettting at here? I know I sound a little snarky, but I don't mean to be. I just think that we've all been looking at this stuff for so long, and wanting so badly to get somewhere that we start seeing what we want to see, instead of what's really there.

Well yes you do sound a little snarky but that's ok I've got a thick skin. Maybe I am a little frustrated because I saw a lot in the illustrations for ATT and nothing resulted from it---of course we will know in due time. I did however figure out that the fairy dropcap on p.46 of ATT was Golden Gate Park, how close did you come to this park?? You might try to look a little closer at things in the book. Hope you get a ring.

Steelhunting

I apologize for sounding like I was on the attack. I guess I just don't see everything you were referring to.

That's ok Mel I use several magnifications to see what I see---I even tried a microscope from work but the magnification was too intense. I think that Michael has hidden a lot more than most people realize and what is really bizarre is the way he has done it. You can stare at an illustration for several minutes and then all of a sudden things start to appear---words, letters, numbers. It almost like those weird prints in the mall that if you stare at them long enough the picture changes into something completely different. I have lots of notes about the illustrations but so far the "ring" is still pretty elusive. Call me optimistic but I still believe that there are more tokens to find in the ATT hunt based upon the illustrations---namely in Oregon and Washington. Thanks Mel for bringing a bit of reality check into the equation but also keep an open mind. If you find a ring I will be the first to congratulate you---I hope you do. Best.
Steelhunting